I don’t think this will surprise anyone, but China Daily’s coverage of the London torch relay is a bit different. With the headline “Police arrest 25 torch relay offenders in London“, and a much cheerier accompanying picture, China Daily goes on to say:

London welcomed the Olympic Flame on Sunday as part of the global Olympic Torch Relay in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games. As a grand festival in London, tens of thousands people lined the route of the relay to cheer the event, far outnumbering protesters.

Many spectators voiced disapproval of attempts to disrupt the torch relay by those who claimed they had done so for “political causes.”

Deng Zhuting, president of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, said the attempt by a handful of Tibetan separatists to sabotage the Beijing Olympic torch relay violated the Olympic spirit and was insulting to those who love the Olympic Games.

Anyone who has a sense of righteousness would not tolerate such action, Deng said.

Nick, a British university student who was watching the event in central London, said that “sports should be separated from political things.”

Cathy Sing, a London resident, said that she was puzzled by the protesters who said they were supporting the “independence of Tibet.”

“Tibet has been part of China for several hundred years,” she said, adding that the disruption had been well-planned to tarnish China’s image.

I have to wonder if Olympic organizers are regretting their decision to plan the longest torch relay in Olympic history.

Via China Daily